Arrrggghhh Ink

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Daily Quick Sketch: Using Watercolor Pencils + Water Pen

I bought a water brush some time ago and I haven't really had the chance to use it. I keep thinking I want to physically paint artwork so that I actually have . . . physical artwork. But, I'm so used to working digital, that it makes it very hard for me to get back into doing the physical artwork.

Run, Bladimir, Run! Get away from those watercolors!My first attempt at using water color pencils and a water brush on watercolor paper . . . looking muddy

Basically my biggest problem is this . . . the physical world doesn't allow you to make mistakes. Nor does it allow quick experimenting or provide quick alternatives the way digital does. To me, the look of watercolors just screams "picture book". Its just one of the best mediums for creating images for children. Yet, I find physically painting with watercolors so stressful, frustrating and chaotic. Colors fade or bleed into each other. The paper wraps. Colors look different once dry. Etc, etc, etc.

Water Brush: a brush tipped pen that can be filled with water to help blend and control watercolors

So, in my humble attempt to control watercolors better, I decided to try using watercolor pencils with a water brush. The pencils offer me the most control, since pencils are what I feel most comfortable using. The water brush allows me to add water where I want and it allows me to blend the water color pencils with ease. (The only real issue I have with the water brush is that sometimes dries a little while using it, which doesn't allow the water to flow out as much as I would like.)

Overall: The image above turned out too dark and muddy for my taste. Adding the ink lines didn't help the image either, since they overpowered the subtle colors of the watercolor pencils. I also believe the watercolor paper I was using was too rough.

I'll try to do several more tests and see if I can improve. And if that doesn't work . . . there's always the option to going back to digital watercolors.

About Me

I've been a cartoonist, animator and toy designer for over 25 years. Back in 2006, I started my own company and began working with Tom's Toy International in China: designing toys, costumes and pet products for mass market retailers like Target, Wal-Mart and PetSmart.

I hope to someday find a publisher for my other whimsical tales, such as:Little BAD Riding Hood: What really happened in those old classic fairy tales?Whazzit: The wintry tale about a mysterious blue object found in a mystical place near Grandma's forest.Worm-Wired Glasses: A whimsical tale about a little monster with very poor eyesight on Halloween night.

I currently live in central New Jersey with my lovely wife Carla, and our two overly hyper attention-seeking Australian Cattle Dogs. I love creating stories and characters that make children laugh and use their imagination.Please feel free to contact me by email: books@arrrggghhh.com